Package of aerosol cans, carton and carton blank therefor



Aug. 2 1967 E. H. CARLSON 3,338,403

PACKAGE OF AEROSOL CANS, CARTON AND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR Filed March16, 1965 5 SheetS Sheet 1 24 i2 f j Z 1 A d 2a 401 aaga I r.

.52 5;? and? 7" 595 fi .50 55 6a 49a" 54 INVENTOR. Fig 3. fiz zcfza'zzsazz BY ATTORNEYS 29, 1967 E. H. CARLSON 3338,43

PACKAGE OF AEROSOL CANS, CARTON AND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR Filed March16, 1965 Z) Sheets-Sheet 2 1967 I E. CARLSOI\I 3,338,4fl3

PACKAGE OF AEROSOL CANS, CARTON AND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR Filed Marchl6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f I I I I I I I l l l 7 7s 14 65 75 19' a 7% I70 76 82a z\ 74 (9.5 I 60' i 75 l I .25 9 INVENTOR.

TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,338,403 PACKAGE OF AEROSOL CANS, CARTONAND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR Eric H. Carlson, Wilmette, Ill., assignor toKerr Chemicals, Inc., Des Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Illinois FiledMar. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 440,133 20 Claims. (Cl. 206--65) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Container assembly including two aerosol cans withcooperating valved mechanisms, the contents of the cans being atdifferent pressures and being arranged to engage within the carton totransfer the contents of the can under higher pressure into the canhaving a lower pressure.

This invention relates to a package of aerosol cans and to a carton andto a carton blank for use in making such a package.

In the making of foamed resins it has been proposed to packagecomponents of the resin-forming composition in separate aerosol cans,one containinga pre-formed polymer, or partial polymer, or some of theconstitutents thereof in a non-reacting condition, and the othercontaining a reaction instigating component,,including a catalyst, and aliquefied propellant that is normally a gas and that is under greatercompression than the contents of the first aerosol can. A mixing of thecontents of two cans can be accomplished by the use of suitably designedvalve-controlled dispensing mechanisms, so arranged and constructed thatwhen the dispensing ends of the aerosol cans are placed in properlyaligned relationship for the cooperative action of the.respective valvemechanisms and the cans forced together, the contents of the more highlypressurized can will be discharged into the other can for admixture withthe contents thereof. After a short period of shaking the can nowcontaining all of the ingredients of the resin-forming composition, thereaction mixture therein is ready to' be discharged at whatever site ischosen for the build-up of the foamed resin. Such a two-can system beingreadily portable, facilitates the delivery of the resin-forming mixturewherever the foamed resin is needed for insulation or other purposes.

The carton of my present invention is designed to contain two aerosolcans such as described and to facilitate the mixing of the contents ofthe two cans while in the resulting package. The packaging arrangementis such that it is impossible for the contents of the cans to be mixedinadvertently while in storage or at any time before intentional use ofthe package. Additionally, in order to reduce any hazard during themixing of the contents of the two cans, the carton is provided withmeans for locking the carton closed until the mixing of the contents ofthe two cans has been completed.

The carton of my invention is formed from a onepiece blank of sheet-likematerial, such as fiberboard or the like, which is so formed andarranged with score lines, or the lines of weakness, slits andinterlocking tabs, as to be readily foldable to erect the blank into theform of a carton having the special features adapting it for the two-canaerosol system just described. These special features include a cut-outportion in one of the side panels of the carton that forms an opening, adoor forming flap for such opening, and a spacing member that is adaptedto be inserted through said opening to be between the packaged aerosolcans and thereby prevent premature actuation of their dispensing valves.

Another special feature of my carton is the provision 3,338,403 PatentedAug. 29, 1967 of transverse lines of weakness in the sidwalls of thecarton that permit the carton to be collapsed endwise, after the removalof the spacing member, to effect actuation of the valves of the two cansand the transfer of the contents of one can into the other while thecarton is in a closed and locked condition. In such condition the cartonnot only affords protection to the operator, but also facilitates theshaking of the aerosol cans necessary to bring about the desiredreaction. After being shaken for a few minutes, the package can beopened manually with considerable ease, and the one can that nowcontains the complete admixture, removed from the carton for use. Thecarton and the remaining, now empty can are then discarded. Since thecarton can be made of relatively inexpensive material at a relativelylow manufacturing cost, and since the aerosol cans are of theconventional type and are themselves relatively inexpensive, my systemof packaging a pair of aerosol cans for the purposes described, is anentirely feasible one.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide apackage of a pair of aerosol cans in a carton, wherein the carton forpackaging the cans is so constructed and arranged as to facilitateshipment of the cans and the manipulation of them in the transfer of thecontents of one can into the other at the site where the contents are tobe used, as, for example, in the foaming-in-place of a resin foam.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a packageof the type described that is free from hazard to the user and thatincludes means for preventing anaccidental or unintended mixing of thecontents of the two cans, while facilitating such mixing Without removalof the cans from the carton until the desired reaction between thecontents of the two cans has been completed. Other and further objectsof this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings,which, by way of a preferred example only, illustrate an embodiment ofmy invention.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, elevational view of a package of a pair ofaerosol cans wherein the carton and the resulting package embody theprinciples of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a one-piece blank suitable for making thecarton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective plan view of a spacer member forming a part ofthe package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line IVIV of FIG. 1, showing the pair of aerosol cans in elevationand illustrating the positioning of the spacer member of FIG. 3 toprevent interaction between the valve mechanisms of the two cans;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View during the stage at which theopening for the insertion of the spacer member into the package, or forits removal from the package, lies uncovered by the door-forming flapprovided for the purpose;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 5,but with the spacer member removed;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 after endwise collapsing of thecarton and the interengagement of the dispensing mechanisms of the twoaerosol can-s during the act of transferring the contents from one canto the other;

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged, fragmentary elevational view, partiallybroken away and in section, illustrating the position of the dispensingportions of the two cans in an engaging but inactive relationship;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to- FIG. 8, but with the dispensing portions ofthe two cans in active, cooperative relationship for effecting thetransfer of the contents of one can into the other; and

FIG. is a sectional view of the valve dispensing mechanism of the upperof the two cans after disengagement from the lower can.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a package embodying theprinciples of my invention. Said pack-age includes a carton generallyrepresented by the reference numeral 11 and a pair of aerosol cans 12and 13, which, as best shown in FIG. 4, are contained within the carton11 endwise relationship with the annular reduced ends [4 and 15,respectively, opposed to one another. If it be assumed that the packageis shown in its upright position, as in FIG. 1, the lower can 13 isupright and the upper can 12 is inverted with a spacer member 16, tobedescribed later, separating the reduced ends 14 and 15 of the respectivecans.

For ease of understanding of the construction of the carton 11, theblank from which it is formed will be described first, and the samereference numerals will be applied to the carton, after erection,insofar as is feasible, as are applied to corresponding elements andstructural features of the blank.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a carton-forming blank indicated as a whole bythe reference numeral 17, comprises a one-piece flat sheet of materialthat has been die-cut or otherwise formed, and provided with slits andlines of fold, score lines and the like, positioned and arranged asrequired for the erection of the blank into the form of the carton 11.Where the expression lines of weakness is used herein, it may refer toscore lines or to other lines along which a folding is to take place orwhere there is to be a complete removal of a portion of the carton wall,as in the case of a cut-out. v

In its broader aspects, the blank 17 comprises four elongated, sidewallforming panels 18, 19, 20 and 21, all of which are rectangular in shapeand of substantially the same dimensions, since the preferred form ofcarton is one that has a square cross-section only slightly larger insize than the size required for accommodation of the cans 12 and 13. Thepanels 18, 19, 20 and 21 are joined respectively to lines of fold 22, 23and 24, extending the full distance between transverse lines of fold and26, except for slits provided in the lines of fold that will bedescribed later. The lines of fold 22, 23 and 24 are sometimes referredto as edge-forming lines of fold. The lines of fold 25 and 26, whichextend continuously (except for minor interruptions) across the blankfrom a line of fold 27 at one side thereof to a free edge 28 on theother side thereof, define the end edges of said panels 18, 19, 20 and21. A pair of spaced joint-forming flaps 29 and 30 extend beyond theline of fold 27. In setting up the carton, said flaps 29 and 30 areadhesively secured inwardly of the free edge 28 to the underside of thepanel 21 as viewed in FIG. 2. An adhesive, indicated at 31, may beapplied to the upper sides of the joint-forming flaps 29 and 30 and thejoint formed by heat, or heat and pressure, between said flaps and theback face of the panel 21, or any conventional method of forming thejoint may be employed.

A door-forming flap 32 extends from a line of fold 33 that issubstantially in alignment with the free edge 28 of the panel 21 and isintermediate the end edge lines of fold 25 and 26. Said door-formingflap 32 has a pair of spaced tabs 34 and 35 extending from the ends ofthe free edge 36 of said flap 32 and foldaole about lines of fold 37 and38. Said door-forming flap 32 functions to close an opening 65 (later tobe described more fully) formed by removing a knock-out portion 39formed by arcuate lines of curvature 40 and 41 in the panel 18 andextending substantially completely thereacross along a median line ofsaid panel 18. A plurality of score lines 42, 43 and 44 extend inparallel spaced relationship across the panels 19, 2t) and 21 andspanning the width of the door-forming fiap 32 all the way across fromthe line of fold 22 to the free edge 36 of said line of said flap. Theselines of fold 42, 43 and 44 may be score lines or lines of weakness, thepurpose of which will later appear, but it is suflicient here to notethat the hand between the score lines 42 and 44 form, in general, acontinuation of the knock-out portion 39 and lies within the maximumextent of the lines of weakness 40 and 41 defining said knock-outportion 39.

A plurality of end closure-forming fl-aps 45, 46, 47 and 48 extendbeyond the line of fold 25 joining said extensions, respectively, withone end of each of the panels 18, 19, 20 and 21. Similar endclosure-forming flaps 45a, 46a, 47a and 48a extend beyond the line offold 26 that joins them with the corresponding panels 18, 19, 20 and 21respectively. The flaps 45 and 45a are identically formed and areprovided with integral tabs 49 and 49a that are foldable about scorelines 50 and 50a. A pair of spaced angled slits 51 and 52 intersect theend edgeforming line of fold 25 between the flap 45 and the panel 18 anda similar pair of slits 51a and 52a intersect the line of fold 26. Saidslits 51 and 52 and 51a and 52a are joinedrespect-ively, by slits 53 and53a formed in the lines of folds 25 and 26, respectively. The endclosure tabs 47 and 47a are provided at their ends with looking tabs 54and 54a having re-entrant slits 55, 56 and 55a, 56a inwardly of thedivergent arcuate edges 57, 58, and 57a, 58a of said tabs 54 and 54a. Aswill be more fully explained later, the locking tabs 54 and 54a areadapted to be inserted into the openings provided by the slits 53 and53a and locked therein to lock the carton closed.

Each of the end closure-forming flaps 46 and 46a is of generallyrectangular shape and extends free of the adjoining tabs 45, 47 and 45aand 47a, by virtue of narrow slits 59 and 59a between the flaps 45, 46and 45a, 46a, and by virtue of wider spaces 60 and 60a between the flaps46, 4'7 and 46a, 47a, respectively. The adjacent edges of the flaps 46and 46a are relieved to provide these wider spaces 60 and 60a, so as toprevent interference when setting up the carton. Similarly, the flaps 48and 48a are provided with wider spaces 61 and 61a between adjacentedgesof the flaps 47, 48 and 47a, 48a, respectively.

Slits 63 and 64 are formed in substantial alignment with theedge-forming line of fold 22 in spaced relation from one another toreceive, when the carton is erected, the tabs 34 and 35 on thedoor-forming flap 32. In swinging the door-forming flap 32 about theline of fold 33 to close the opening 65 provided by the knock-outportion 39, the flap 32 is moved into position overlying said panel 18and to hold it in that position the tabs 34 and 35 are inserted into theslots 63 and 64, respectively, to be engaged therein.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5, after erection of thecarton 11 and with the upper end closure that includes the flaps 45, 46,47 and 48 open, the aero sol can 13 is first inserted into the carton tobottom against the closed lower end that is closed by the flaps 45a,46a, 47 and 48a. The cam 13 fits snugly therein at the bottom againstthe upturned flaps 54a and 49a. With the doorforming flap 32 open andthe knock-out portion 39 removed (FIG. 5), the spacer member 16 is theninserted through the opening 65 so provided for the insertion andremoval of said spacer member 16. As best shown in FIG. 3, the spacermember 16 comprises a square of double-faced corrugated board 66 havinga slot 67 extending inwardly from one edge thereof to a central circularopening 68. The function of this slot and opening will be apparent asthe description proceeds.

After the lower aerosol can 13 has been inserted into place and thespacer member 16 properly positioned, the upper can 12 is inserted intothe carton in an inverted position. During such insertion, a downwardlyand axially extending tube 69 forming a part of the dispensing andvalved mechanism of the can 12 becomes. automatically aligned with anopening 70 (FIG. 6) in a conventional closure forming a part of the can13. With the spacer member 16 inserted edgewise in a horizontal plane,the tube 69 extends through the central opening 68 of th Spacer member.Said spacer member 16 is of such thick ne'ss that the beaded bottom 70of the upper can 12 abuts the inside of the upper closed end of thecarton formed by the end flaps 45, 46, 47 and 48. In the case of thebottom end of the carton, the down turned terminal flaps 49a and 54aeffect a snug fit between the beaded bottom 70a of the upper can 12 andthe inside of the carton 11.

As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the valved dispensing mechanism of thebottom can 13 includes a central upstanding boss or housing 72 formedintegrally with and coaxially of the cap 71. The opening 70, previouslyreferred to, is formed in said housing 72 axially thereof and inalignment with a down tube 73 connected to and dependenti from a tubularconnector 74 that is secured at its upper end 75 above an annular bead76 of said housing 72'. Said upper end 75 presses against and serves toretain against the upper end of said housing'the annular periphery 77 ofa valve 78 formed of rubber or other distensible and resilient plasticmaterial. Said valve 78 includes a circular central aperture 79 throughwhich the tube 69 of the upper can is also inserted in assembling thecans inithe carton. At this inoperative stage, the valve 78 is held inits upwardly flexed condition (FIG. 6) closing the'opening 70 andsealing the opening 79. Such closure is effected by a compression spring80 acting through a plug .81 against said valve 78. Said plug 81 guidingribs 82 providing flow passages around said plug, and said plug has anupstanding annular wall 83 freely surrounding the lower slotted end 84of the down tube 69 and urged by the: spring 80 into sealed relationshipagainst said valve 78. Under these conditions there is no flowcommunication between the cans 12 and 13.

' However, when the spacer 16 is removed and the cans forced together ina manner later to be explained, the cans are then in a relationship, asshown in FIG. 7, in which flow communication is established between thecans. Such relationship is brought about by virtue of the lower slottedend 84 of the tube 69 depressing the plug 81 against the spring 80 tocom ress the latter and to uncover the slots in the slotted end 84. Inthis down position of the plug 81, the valve 78 still seals the lowerend of the tube 69 at the valve opening 79, but' flow between the cansis established through the exposed slots of said slotted end 84,around'the plug 81 past the ribs 82 and through the opening provided bythe spring 80 into the open upper end 85 of the down tube 83.

The valved dispensing mechanism of the upper can (FIG. is generallysimilar to that just described but differs therefrom in importantrespects. It includes a down- .tube 86 secured at its outer end 87 tothe inner end of a connector 88. The outer end 89 of said connector isoutwardly flared for'retention in a central housing 90 of the canclosure 91 by an inwardly concave annular bead 92. A pair-of resilientpacking washers 93 and 94 are held tightly within said housing 90against the apertured end wall 95 thereof by the flared end 89 of theconnector 88..In this arrangement saidpacking washers 93 and 94 closeoff the aperture 96 in said apertured end wall 95 and also seal againstthe tube 69 that passes through said washers. The inner end- (upper asshown in FIG. 10) of the tube 69 is, provided with one or more openings97, which is, or are also sealed by said washer. The inner open end ofsaid tube 69 is closed inwardly of the openings. 97 by the-reduced end98 of a plug 99. Said plug is biasedby a compression spring 100 againstsaid open end of the tube 69 to close the same and also to flex thepacking washers 93 and 94 into the sealing relationship alreadydescribed. Said plug 99 has peripheral ribs 101 providing passages pastthe plug for the flow of fluid when the openings 97 are uncovered. Thisoccurs when the upper and lower cans 12 and 13 are forced into theposition illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9, as already described. It isbelieved unnecessary to show or describe the portion of the variouselements of the valved dispensing mechanism of FIG. 10 when fluidtherethrough is established, other than to point out that during the actof forcing the cans together, relative upward movement of the plug 99compresses the spring 100 and exposes the openings 97. Fluid flow canthen take place from the tube 86 through the hollow body of theconnector 88, through the passages provided by the plug ribs 101 pastthe plug 99 and into the thin exposed openings 97 into the tube 69.

When the two cans are in the position illustrated in FIG. 7, therefore,full flow communication between the two cans 12 and 13 is established,so that if one of the cans, such as the can 2 is under a higher gaspressure than the can 13, the contents of the can 12 will pass into thecan 13 for admixture with the contents of that can.

A further description will now be given of the manner of effecting alocking closure of the ends of the carton 11. In erecting the blank 17into the form of carton 11, as previously stated, the side flaps 30 and31 are suitably secured to the back surface (as viewed in FIG. 2) of thepanel 21 along and inwardly of the free edge 28 thereof. With the cartonin this position and its upper and lower ends open, one end is closed,such as the lower end, by first turning in the end flaps 48a and 46aabout the line of fold 26 in either order. The flap 45a is then foldedinwardly and the tab 49a is tucked downwardly into the space provided bythe now aligned slots 60a and 61a. The flap 47a is then folded inwardlyto overlie the flap 45a and inserted in said slit 53a and locked thereinby reason of the re-entrant slits 65 and 56 becoming engaged with thematerial of the carton outwardly of the straight parallel slits 51a and52a. With the tab .49a in fully tucked in locking position within theend of the carton and lying against an inside surface of the panel 18,said carton endis locked closed. The assembled bottom closure can thennot be opened up without considerable manual effort. While a highpressure of gas within the carton, after it has been closed, mighteffect a bulging of the end closures, it is unlikely that the closureswould blow open, since, of course, the carton closures are notgas-tight. After the insertion of the two cans in the manner previouslydescribed, the top end closure is effected in a manner exactly similarto that described for the lower end closure. With the doorforming flap32 also closed, the carton is then in the form shown in FIG. 1, readyfor shipment or handling.

When it is desired to use the contents of the cans 12 and 13, thedoor-forming flap 32 is first opened (FIG. 5), and the spacer member 16is withdrawn through the opening 65 provided for the purpose. Thedoor-forming flap 32 is 'then again closed and the package is ready formixing of the contents of the cans 12 and 13.

In order to provide for the collapsibility of the carton 11 endwise,during the operation of mixing the contents of the cans 12 and 13, theparallel score lines 42, 43 and 44 are traversed by slits 105, 106, 107and 108 along the respective lines of folds 22, 23, 24 and 33. By reasonof these slits, the narrow bands 109 and 110 left between the outerscore lines 42 and 44, are free to flex inwardly or outwardly about themiddle score line 43, the flexing ordinarily being outwardly asillustrated in FIG. 7, where the strips-of material 109 and 110 areshown inclined outwardly and convergently toward the score line 43. Thusthe arrangement of the score lines 42, 43 and 44 and the intersectingslits 105, 106, 107 and 108, in combination with the opening 65 providedby removing the knock-out portion 39, make possible an accordion-likeaction of the side walls of the container during the application of theendwise collapsing forces. Since the collapsing takes place with thedoorforming flap 32 in closing position, this accordionflike 7 actionoccurs simultaneously in each of the sidewalls 18, 19, and 21, and alsoin the door panel 32, thereby insuring a truly axial, relative movementbetween the cooperating tube 69 of the upper can 12 and the valveddispensing mechanism of the lower can 13.

Actual mixing, then, is accomplished by applying a downward force to theupper closure including the end closure flap 47 with the carton verticaland resting against a solid foundation. A sufficient force is applied tocause the dependent tube 69 of the upper can to move downwardly into theposition illustrated in FIG. 7, the downward movement being limited bythe beaded edge 14 of the upper can resting against the beaded edge 15of the lower can. With the cans in this position, as previously stated,fluid flow is established between the cans. Transfer takes place fromthe can that is under a higher gas pressure to the can that is under alower gas pressure. By way of example, the upper can 12 may contain apropellant gas in liquefied form and a catalyst under, say, 80 p.s.i.and the other can may contain a prepolymer in a solvent under, say, 40p.s.i. In this case, of course, the propellant gas and catalyst wouldfiow under pressure into the lower can 13 containing the prepolymer andsolvent. During such flow, the operator shakes the package as a unit forthe length of time required, which may be several minutes. At the end ofsuch time, not only has the transfer been effected, but there has beenthorough mixing of the contents of the two cans with the result that thecan containing the complete mixture is now ready for use.

To use the latter can, it is a simple matter to open up the carton andto remove such can and use it wherever the foam-in-place resin is to beapplied. The resulting foamed resin is then allowed to expand to theextent desired, or to the extent permitted by the formation of gaswithin the mass of the resin mix. Ordinarily a selfcuring resinous mixis used that requires no heat but only a certain length of time for thereaction to be completed. It is usually best to use up completely thecontents of the can containing the complete mixture, since otherwiseexpansion of the contents of the can could take place that would makethe contents unusable in any extent.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eifectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carton formed from a blank of flexible sheet material, said cartonhaving four connected elongated panels forming side walls with end flapsextending endwise therefrom forming interlocking end closures,

a door-forming flap foldable from one of said panels to lie over andextend transversely across a second panel,

there being slits along a folded edge of said second panel forengagement of said flap, said second panel having an intermediateknock-out portion extending transversely thereof,

said other panels and said door-forming flap having a plurality ofparallel score lines extending completely thereacross in alignment withsaid knock-out portion, and there being slits through the edges joiningsaid panels and said flap intersecting said score lines, whereby whensaid knock-out portion is removed and said flap is in engagement thecarton can be collapsed along said score lines by opposing forces actingendwise against said car-ton.

2. A carton as defined by claim 1, wherein said blank is a one-piecesheet of fibrous material with a joint-forming flap on one outer panelfor uniting to the other outer side wall-forming panel in erecting saidcarton.

3. A carton as defined by claim 1, including a spacer member insertableand removable through the opening formed by removal of said knock-outportion.

4. A carton as defined by claim 3, adapted to receive 8 a pair ofaerosol cans with the dispensing ends thereof opposed, and with saidspacer member positioned between said dispensing ends. 7

5. A carton as defined by claim 1, wherein all four of said panels andsaid flap are of substantially equal width to form a carton of squarecross-section.

6. A carton as defined by claim 1, wherein interlocking of saidrespective end closures is accomplished by locking tabs formed on twoend closure flaps and reentrant slits are formed along edges betweenanother two oppositely extending end closure flaps and the paneltherebetween, said slits being aligned for receiving said locking tabsin locking engagement.

7. A package comprising a carton having elongated side walls andintegral end flaps cooperating with said side walls to form locked endclosures,

one of said side Walls having a door-forming flap foldable therefromover a second side wall to be releasably retained thereagainst,

said second side wall having a knock-out portion forming an openingtherein closable by said door-forming p,

means aligned with said knock-out portion extending completely aroundsaid carton and providing endwise collapsible side wall portions,

two aerosol dispensing cans within said carton having valved dispensingmechanisms and arranged with their dispensing ends opposed to eachother, and

a spacer member removable through said opening arranged between theopposed dispensing ends of said cans to render the valved dispensingmechanisms thereof inoperative, whereby when said member is removedthrough said opening, the opening thereafter closed by said flap andopposed endwise forces are applied to collapse said collapsible sidewall portions, said valve mechanisms are actuated.

8. A package as defined by claim 7 that is square in cross-section andthat is of only slightly greater dimensions than necessary to receivesaid cans.

9. A package as defined by. claim 7, wherein said spacer member whenpositioned in place between said can ends said member causes the otherends of said cans to substantially abut the inner surfaces of saidlocked end closures.

10. A package as defined by claim 9, wherein said spacer member isslotted inwardly from one edge to a central opening, the slot andopening being of dimensions such as to enable the spacer member to beinserted laterally between said dispensing ends to receive a dispensingtube of one can within said central opening.

11. A package as defined by claim 7, wherein said carton is formed froma one-piece blank of flexible fibrous sheet material.

12. A package as defined by claim 7, wherein the car-. ton is a cartonas defined by claim 1.

13. A package as defined by claim 7, wherein the carton is a carton asdefined by claim 3.

14. A carton blank comprising side Wall-forming panels havingedge-forming lines of fold connecting adjacent panels,

end closure-forming extensions of said panels having end edge-forminglines of fold between said extensions and the corresponding panels,certain of said extensions having locking tabs,

an outside one of said panels having spaced marginal extensions adaptedto be joined to the other outside panel,

said one outside panel having a transversely extending knock-out portionterminating at one end between said marginal extensions and at the otherend adjacent the nearest line of fold,

said other outside panel having an integral flap to foldable about atherebetween edge-forming line of fold to close said opening,

all other panels than said one outside panel and said flap having aplurality of parallel lines of weakness aligned With said knock-outportion and extending completely across from said knock-out portioncarrying panel to the free edge of said flap, and

there being slits along the edge-forming lines of fold extending acrosssaid lines of weakness and other slits in and adjacent end-edge forminglines of fold cooperating with said locking tabs on said certain endclosure-forming extensions to provide locking engagement thereof.

15. A carton having side Walls and end closures containing two aerosolcans having valved dispensing mechanisms in opposed relationship,

spacer means removably positioned in said carton holding said valveddispensing mechanisms in inoperative relationship,

one of said carton walls having a knock-out opening through which saidspacer means is removable to permit said valved dispensing mechanisms tobe moved relatively toward each other into operative relationship, and

said carton having lines of Weakness extending around said side walls incooperative alignment with said knock-out opening to form collapsiblewall portions, whereby said carton is rendered collapsible in an endwisedirection under opposite acting forces applied through said end closuresand relative movement of said valved dispensing mechanisms intooperative relationship can thereby be effected.

16. A carton as defined by claim 15, wherein said knock-out opening isnormally closed by a door-forming flap and said door-forming flap islikewise provided with lines of Weakness aligned with said firstmentioned lines of weakness to permit endwise collapsing of said cartonwhen said door-forming flap is in closed position over said knock-outopening.

17. A carton as defined by claim 15, wherein said end closures includelocking tabs and said opposite acting forces can be applied against saidend closures with said locking tabs in position holding said endclosures locked shut.

18. A carton as defined by claim 16, wherein locking tabs are providedon said end closures for locking the latter in end-closing relation.

19. A carton as defined by claim 15 wherein said carton is formed of anintegral blank of flexible sheet material.

20. A package of two aerosol cans cooperatively associated with eachother and with a container therefor to effectuate a transfer of thecontents of one can into the other, said package comprising:

an endwise collapsible container of a cross section and heightsufficient to snugly receive two aerosol cans in endwise superimposedbut inoperative relationship,

a pair of aerosol cans the contents of which are under differentialpressure within said container in the aforesaid relationship, saidcontainer being sufiiciently collapsible axially to cause operativeengagement between said cans, and

said cans having valved mechanisms cooperating when endwise pressure isapplied to said collapsible container to transfer the contents of thecan under higher pressure into the can of lower pressure.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

1. A CARTON FORMED FROM A BLANK OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL, SAID CARTONHAVING FOUR CONNECTED ELONGATED PANELS FORMING SIDE WALLS WITH END FLAPSEXTENDING ENDWISE THEREFROM FORMING INTERLOCKING END CLOSURES, ADOOR-FORMING FLAP FOLDABLE FROM ONE OF SAID PANELS TO LIE OVER ANDEXTEND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS A SECOND PANEL, THERE BEING SLITS ALONG AFOLDED EDGE OF SAID SECOND PANEL FOR ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FLAP, SAIDSECOND PANEL HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE KNOCK-OUT PORTION EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY THEREOF, SAID OTHER PANELS AND SAID DOOR-FORMING FLAPHAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SCORE LINES EXTENDING COMPLETELYTHEREACROSS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID KNOCK-OUT PORTION, AND THERE BEINGSLITS THROUGH THE EDGES JOIN-